Bridge bidding machine



June 11," 1935. F B WATKINS 2,004,513

BRIDGE BIDDING MACHINE,

Filed June 19, 1931 4 307 IOI 38 2 7 1a /2. 1/ 9 2a 29 By. 2

3n /6 22 I as I /6 4 26 5 6 2s 5 a L I I] A INvENToR s6 5 w B D Patented June 11, 1935 UI'E'E STAT S ATE'E' BRIDGE BIDDING MACHINE Frederick B.' Watkins, LcsAngeles, Calif. Application June 19, 1931, seriarNo. 545,543

Claims.

My invention relates to a bridge bidding machine and the first object thereof is to provide a machine on which all the combinations of bid-- ding, doubling, redoubling and passing can, be

visibly registered. The second object is to pro-y vide means for actuating an ejector plate by which the registering of .a bid, double or redouble will eject previously registered passes fromtheir registered positions until the bidis established.

The third object of my inventionis to afford.

facilities for operating the ejector plate in a shallow housing,giving themachine a small board-like appearance, so that it can be used with facility on a card table or made a part thereof. The fourth object is to provide the combination in a machine by which the bidding progresses around the machine in a clock-wise direction. The fifth object is to provide a combination for registering declarations 1 which makes it apparently impossible to register an insufficient bid. The sixth objectis to provide muscle to operate said machine, thus improving the bidding. The ninth object isto provide a machine on which a complete record of the declarations can be registered andretained. The tenth object is to conspicuously show the current rubber score, and whether or not the players.

have. scored a game, becoming vulnerable in contract bridge.

centrally located ejector plate, a multiplicity of levers and the large plate or ring discv which operates the ejector plate thru the levers. The right half of the cover plate substantially duplicates the half shown, exceptv that the number- ,ing or the sections showingthe ranking bids is continuous, and that onescoring set answers for each set of partners.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; the men-used in registering the bid and pass shown, and the ,scoring pins, are

retained in full in order to distinguish them by their colors. I

Figure 3 is a plan view and elevation, A and B respectively, of a detached lever, showing. the metalfianchor straps and pin used to fasten, it in position. g j t .Similar numerals refer to. similar ,parts throughout, the. several views? 1 In the drawing the mainbody of the machine I is'comprised of a metal plate I, riveted to the woodenring 2, by the rivets 3, and separated from the metal ,base plate 5 by the'wooden I spacer ring 4. It is preferably octagonal in plan view, providing for a circular: layout on the cover plate and sides facing the players. A felt covering 6 is glued andfastened to the under side of the base plate 5. A heavy Bristol board i is glued to the wooden ring 2 and on this is printed, in their ranking order, the suit char- I acters, etc. (N/T stands-for nc-trump.)

The doubleline 8, 'on the metalplate l, separates the passing area, containing-the four passing holes 8, from the {area containing the three rows of thirty-five holes each, used in biding, doubling and redoubling. Markers, herein termed men, made of suitable mate 'rial are inserted in the several holes to register any declaration, which may be a pass, a bid, or

. a double or redouble of abid. These markers have ,a' portion of-proper size to be received by the hole and a shoulder that limits'thedistance the marker may be inserted into the hole.

Man IB, in hole 9, shows a, pass'registered.

Row M is-used to redouble abidyrow lZ-is used to double a bid; row [3 is used to register a bid, as shown by man It. In registering a bid, double or redouble it is necessary to place the man in the identified hole desired and push I accomplish these ob ects by mechanism lllusit down as iar'as it will go. When the man l4, shown resting on the plate or ring disc iii; in Figures 1 and 2,, registered the bid thering disc I5 was depressed. Said ring disc rests on, the short arms of levers. l6, .and is otherwise positioned by pins I1 and wooden ring 2.

The long arms of the levers l6 engage-the ejector plate l8, carrying the ejector pins I9,

thru the collar 20 which slides; up and down on considerable friction betweenthe collar 20 and the rod 2!. Too short a collar, a worn collar,

too great a' distance off center of the point of application of the lever with the ejector plate, or a combination of these factors, can cause said collar to lock to said rod. A lifting force, produced by a lever acting against the angular face of the collar 29, produces a force, acting thru the point of application of the 'lever-irom the #centerof the'ejector plate and the-length of the ejector plate is so as to register with the pass holes 9 in plate I. The ejector plate 18, carrying the ejector pins 19, is positioned "by bearing rod 2!, firmly'fastenedto the base plate 5 by-screw 23. Guide pin 22 which engages.

slot'i-nthe ejector plate l8and is threaded'to plate i, holes 9.

A multiplicity of levers ls (eightin the present instance) are uniformly spaced around, and below, the ring disc l5 and the ejector plate l8, in order that said ejector platecanbe operated; by men in registering any bid, double orredouble desired. The .ring disc -15 lies 'just bea low the holes used to'register bids; doubles and redoubles so that it can be contacted by'a man in registering said declarations. (SeeFigures l- With suchan arrangement of levers,

and 2.) and a uniformly distributedpforce brought to bearon the ring'disc, the ejector plate would 01 ibe raised without the tilting and binding pre-' plished regardless of the length of the collar bearing-the wear on'said collar, the distance of the levers. In registering a bid, doubleor reonthe ring disc 95, and my invention also affords means by which this concentrated force is distributed over several of the levers.

vers it have been made long as possible, con tacting the ring disc 15 close to its outeredge. Also, said ring disc has been made considers ably larger than the 'area' cbvere'dby the threerows of holes used in bidding; doubling and-redoubling,being carried well back of the outer row of holes i3 and under the wooden ring! 2. The act'of pressing down' on -man I4. concentrates a force at this pointwhich falls inside "the point of contact of the' immediately adja- In a similar manner the registering of any bid-' cent lever with the ring disc.- (See Fig. 2;)

double or redouble-concentrates a "forceat a point on the ring disc which 'falls. inside a straight line joining the points or" contact of the two immediately adja-- cent levers withthe ring disc. Thus in registering abid, double or redouble, there is a tendency ness'of the ring-disc: Due-to themore centralsufficiently stifi so that little because a shorter maintains pins 19 in alinement' with" The 1e-- 1 2 13 ,lij' Q ized location of the holes used in registering a redouble it is apparent that the distribution of the force on thering disc, over the levers, will be much more uniform when said redouble is registered than when a bid is registered. To complete the design, for facilitating the raising of the ejector plate It by distributing the'force concentratedon the ring disc I? over a plurality of levers when a bid, double or redouble is registered, it.is necessary that thering disc l5 be or no flexure occurs in it.

-{Ihe weight of the ejector plate assembly l8, l9 and 20, riding on the long arms of the levers -l6, is sufficient to keep it down undernormal conditions of operation.

light, coiled, compression spring, acting between (I prefer to use a very plate'l and the ejector plate It, which is considerably shorter than the distance between said plates and isprimarily for reducing the freedom with: WhichE'the ejector plate can slide on rod 2| whenthe machine is excessively and abnormally handled'J-H-I;

' Two pins are used to position the ring disc l5. They are located between the two outer rows of. holes," l2s-andfl I3,- diametrically opposite each other;=aandsoldered.to the galvanized iron base Pl'atefS; i

vjEa'ch' -lever I6 "is'secured in place by two bent metal straps and the'anchor pin 24, which. passes through'thelever nearthe bend and is fastened :tliereto toform a pivot for the lever; .The anchorrstraps 25 have one end wrapped around theyanchor pin 24, and the other end is soldered to;the base plate 5, to position t he levers. (See Figst-Z and-B'.) The long arm ,of the levers is twicethe length of the short arm (in the present ins tanc :e)- so .thatthe ejectorplate is raised twice as far" as the ringidiscjs depressed.

ffMeni Ill and HIV are designed to ride freely in all; -,of" the ;holesbidding, doubling, redoubling and passing holes-.-so thatthe menv in, the.passing holes can be easily ejected; and

so' thatf the men, riding on the ring disc l5,

v having' previously registered a bid, double or i redoublepwillfnot interfere with the registering double a concentrated force isbroughtto bearof a subsequentbid, double, redouble or pass. The' rnetal plate 1 (aluminum in the present instance), is ..sufficiently thick to provide side wallstdkeep the men"'ere'ct in the holes.

m n. are cut off. square at their base, and this flat surface riding on the ring disc aids inkeep- .ing' .them erect. The distance that the men travel onthe' ring disc is limited to the distance that the'shoulder on the fmen is above the metal plate I. When afman is pushed down in'a hole as far as it will go'the shoulder contactsthe face. ofthe metal plate I. The metal canj be' imparted-to the ring. disc in registering 1 apass, as the ejector plate assembly rests against the baseplate 5 except during the actual process of registering a bid,double or redouble. The men cannot ride up and down on the ejector pins because as soon as they lose the support of the side walls of the pass holes they tumble over due to the'point contact ofthe ejector pin with the fiat base of the men; also, the ejector pin does not necessarily contact the flat base of the man at its center.

The arrow 28 is centrally located and positioned by screw 29, about which it can be rotated to show who dealt the cards and is the first to make a declaration. The screw 29, tipped with solder, is run down against the screw 23, pressing the arrow 28 against a leather washer, which arrangement gives a good adjustment.

The scoring pins and 3| are used to register points scored toward games in a current rubber. The partners have a set of two colored pins each, which are kept in unidentified deep holes. It is only necessary to place one of the scoring pins in the hole corresponding to the total points scored in the current game until game is scored;

then the second pin is moved toward the game hole. In the present instance, when game is scored, a vulnerable--Vul.-hole is used. Figure 1 shows the scoring holes given numbers for scoring at contract bridge; by using a dual set of numbers, for such a set'of twenty-five scoring holes, auction bridge could be included.

The leather handles 38 are placed opposite each player; one being conveniently shown in Fig. 1. They are slipped over the screws 26 and clamped between the two wooden rings 2 and 4, which are slightly countersunk. The outer ends of the leather straps are looped and sewed providing holes for conveniently keeping the men. (See Figure 1 showing man [4 dotted in.)

The divisional layout of the composite cover plate, 5, 2 and I, is exactly symmetrical with respect to the center line 32 in Figure 1. The double line 8 encloses the passing area, which is divided into four quadrants by the radial lines 33. Each quadrant of the passing area has a passing hole 9, centrally located. Two of the passing holes lie in the center line 3 2 and the other two are located on a line at right angles to said line 32 which passes thru the center of the passing area. Each quadrant of the passing area is identified by a band of color 34, which corresponds to the color of the man used by the player on that side of the machine, or facing that particular quadrant. Seven equal major divisions, representing the ranking bids according to the number of tricks bid, are laid out on the remaining area by radial lines 35. Starting from the space 36, which is bisected by the line 32, and left blank, the major divisions are consecutively numbered, one to seven inclusive, keeping the numbers adjacent the pass-' ing area. Each major division is further divided into five minor divisions by radial lines, leaving space for the major division or trick bid numbers. (See Fig. l.) I prefer tolay out the full 360 degrees into thirty-six minor divisions of ten degrees each; the last minor division represents the space left blank, and the thirty-five minor divisionsare apportioned into seven major divisions of five minor divisions each, by lines 35. Starting from the blank space, or division 36, the five spaces of the first major division are consecutively identified by the suit characters in their ranking order clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades and N/T, for no trump. This identification is duplicated in each major division .and placed near the outside of the cover plate, leaving room for the game scoring holes, as shown by line 31 in Fig. 1. The successive bidding holes are thus formed progressively in their ranking order, 1. e., the

bid that outranks the preceding hole. The majordivisions are further divided by four concentric circles, placed between the suit characters and the ranking bid numbers, producing three concentric rows of five spaces each for locating holes in which the men are placed to register declarations. Bids, doubles and redoubles are respectively registered in the outside row, middle row and inside row.

The minor divisions have the suit bids increasing in value in the same direction of rotation as the trick bids of the major divisions increase. This direction is preferably clockwise since bidding progresses in this direction; and is pref erably the same in the major and minor divisions for simplicity and accuracy-in making suflicient or legal bids as will be explained. No trump is a suit bid as far as ranking bids is concerned; and it is obvious that a greater or lesser number of major and minor divisions might be provided to score games other than bridge.

The wedge shaped blank space'tt is used as an arrow and points north, to the N shown on the cover plate. This establishes compass points on the machine by which the players are also iden-' tified. By maintaining the bidding machine in one direction, the arrow pointing north, the 10- cation of the ranking suits and bids is not altered when the players change their positions at the card table.

After the inking in is completed on the Bristol board lit is given several protective coats of clear lacquer, which produces a durable and ivory like finish. The main division lines on the aluminum plate I are grooved and filled with colored lacquer.

Before assembling the parts making up the bridge bidding machine, the anchor straps 2'5, positioning levers l6, andthe pins ll are soldered to base plate 5; the guide pin 22 is screwed in plate I, and the clamping nuts 21' are countersunk in the wooden ring 2 before glueing on the Bristol board I. The central rod 2!, with the ejector plate assembly i8, I9 and 20 slipped on it, is now screwed tightly to the base plate 5 while firmly pressing the ejector plate assembly down against the base plate. The beveled face of collar 20 aids in centering said bearing rod 21, by positively contacting some of the levers during the tightening process. Thru slits in the felt 6 screws 26 are slipped. thru holes in the base plate which register with holes 2'! in wooden ring 4. The wooden ring spacer block 4 is next put in place. The ring disc i5 is slipped over the guide pins H and down on the levers H5. The leather handles 38 are slipped in place over screws 26. The cover plate is laid on the spacer block 4 being sure that the guide pin 22 engages the slot in the ejector plate l8; holes for engaging the screws 26 also register with holes 21 in the wooden ring 6. The arrow 28 with its leather washer is put in place and the screw 29 screwed down lightly. Screws '26 are then lightly screwed in clamping nuts 21'. To secure a goodadjustment, of the ejector pins I9 with the pass holes 9, a man is pressed down against the ring disc l5 causing the ejector pins l9 to engage the pass holes 9.- The'cover plate can be strained one way or the other against .the clamping action of the screws 26 to give the proper adjustment. Screw 29 is now screwed down tightly to hold the cover plate in the adjusted position, using a thick washer under the screw 29 if necessary. Screws next hole in a clockwisedirection represents a.

number of ly together. The freedom with which the arrow 28 can be moved is adjusted by turning screw 29.

In Figures 1 and 2, two men, H3 and I4, are shown in registering positions. The colors shown on the four color band 34 identify man I!) as these West player, and man 14 as the South player. As previously mentioned, the bidding machine, or bridge bidding board, is given compass points. The central arrow 28 points to the black section of the four colored band 36, or to the West player. This shows that the man Hi dealt the cards and is the first to make a declaration. Man M, the South player, has registered a bid of two spades which ejected the men registering previous passes. N other men are shown as'having registered anything but passes, so that at least two passes just pre- 1 ceded Souths bid of two spades, and were ejected from their respective passing holes by said bid of two spades; and man I0, the West player, registered the pass shown in Figures 1 and 2, after the said bid of two spades. After the first four declarations men not appearing on the bridge bidding board in registering positions must have previously passed and been ejected by a subsequent bid, double or redouble. The bidding machine thus shows a record of at least the last four declarations whether or not all of the men are actually visible. A complete record of all the bidding, doubling, redoubling and passing can be registered and retained until the hand is played, if the players have the necessary men. To establish a bid, three men must be actually visible registering passes. If the bid of two spades by South is doubled by' East, then East would placev his man alongside of Souths fman l4, and in the middle row of holes l2. If North now .redoubles his partners doubledbid of two spades,

he places his man in the hole, in row H, which is alongside of Easts doubling man.

To establish the bid, whether doubled or redoubled, three men must be visible registering passes at the same time.- As previously stated the partners have a set of two colored scoring pins. In Fig. l the East and West partners,

using the black scoringzpins 30, havea'score' :of 60 points toward the'first game, shown by.

one of the black scoring pins occupying the hole designated 68 on their side of the machine;

Their other scoring, pirr 30 occupies one of the unidentified deep holes. North and South partiners have no'score toward the first game as shown by both of their scoring pins 3! occupying the deep unidentified holes.

Having described my invention, 'I ,claim:. 1. A bridge bidding board. having several separate bid and pass indicators each operable at will to indicate bids and passes, and meansv in association with said board operated by an indication of a bid to remove. all previously made indications of passes.

2. In a device of the characterdescribed, a board having a first group of designated marker receiving spaces, a second group of marker Te ceiving spaces, markers adapted to be selectively placed in the several spaces, and means to eject markers from the first group of said spaces by virtue of placement of' a marker in any one of the other group of spaces. i

3. A bridge bidding board having several separate declaration indicators each operable'at will to indicate declarations, and means in associa-- 26 are then tightened, .clampingflthe coverplate,; wooden spacer block 4 and the base plate 5 firmtion with said board operated by an indication of a declaration to remove selected ones of previously made indications.

- 4. In a device of the character described, an apertured recording board having a first group of recording holes and a second group of recording holes, markers adapted to be selectively inserted inthe. recording holes and to project beneath the board, and means beneath the board to eject markers from holes in the first group when a marker is placed. in a. hole of the second group. y r

5. Ina device of the character described, an apertured .recordingboard having a first recording hole and a second recording hole, markers adapted to be inserted selectively in said holes and to project through the board, and means to eject a markerin the first hole by inserting a marker .in the second hole; said ejecting means comprising a'pin mounted beneath.

the board to move toward and away from the first hole, a lever for moving the pin toward the hole-and lever operating means actuated by inserting a marker in the'second hole.

6. In a device of the character described, an

apertured recording board having a first groupof recording holes and a second group of record-.

ing holes, markers adapted to be selectively inserted in the recording holes and to project beneath the board, and means beneath the board to eject. markers from holes in the first group;

said ejecting-means comprising an ejector plate.

mounted for movement toward and away from the board, pinson the plate in alinement with the holes of the first group, and lever means for operating the ejector plate, said operating lever.

surrounding the first group, markers adapted to be inserted in selected recording holes and to project beneath the board, and means beneath the board to eject markers from holes of the first group by inserting a marker in a hole of the second group; said ejectingmeans comprising an ejector blade mounted for movement toward and away from the board, pins on the plate in alinement with holes of the first group,

a plurality-of separate levers extending radially from the ejector plate, the inner ends of the levers being adapted to operate the ejector plate, a disk ring arranged beneath the holes of the second group and supported by the outer ends of said levers-so that insertion of a marker in a hole of the'second group depresses the ring and levers to eiTect operation of the ejector plate. I

8. In combination, an apertured bridge bidding board for registering successive declarations having a centrally located pass hole for each player and a plurality of holes for registering bids, doubles, and. redoubles arranged in concentric circles about the pass holes, markers for insertion into the holes to register declarations, and ejection means whereby markers are ejected from the pass holes by insertion of a marker in a bid, double, or redouble hole.

9. In combination, an apertured bridge bidding board for registering successive declarations having a centrally located pass hole for each player and a plurality of holes for registering bids, doubles, and redoubles arranged in concentric circles about the pass holes, markers for insertion into the holes to register declarations, and ejection means whereby markers are ejected from the pass holes by insertion of a marker in a bid, double, or redouble hole; said ejecting means comprising an ejector plate mounted for movement toward and away from the board, pins on the plate in alinement with the pass holes, and lever means for operating the ejector plate, said operating lever means being actuated by insertion of a marker in a bid, double, or redouble hole.

10. In a bidding board of the character described, a marker ejection means comprising a bearing post, an ejector plate slidably mounted on the post, a hub on the plate having a beveled lever contact face, and a plurality of levers radiating outwardly from the ejector plate and adapted to slide the ejector plate on the hearing post, said levers having a contact face at one end beveled to conform to the contact face of the hub.

11. In a bridge bidding board of the character described, a marker ejection means comprising an ejector plate mounted for movement toward and away from the board, a plurality of levers radiating from the ejector plate and adapted to actuate said plate, and an annular plate supported near its periphery on the outer ends of said levers, said annular plate being adapted to receive ejection efiecting thrusts at a plurality of points and to transmit the thrusts to the levers, the contact points between the plate and levers being positioned so that thrust receiving points on the plate are inside of a straight line between any adjacent two of said contact points.

12. A bridge bidding board of the character described having a plurality of declaration indicators operable to indicate declarations, means in association with the board for indicating the declaration status, said means comprising a pointer mounted on the board, and means-in association with said board, and operated by an indication of a declaration, to remove selected ones of the previously made indications.

13. A board for recording successive bridge bid declarations, said board having a plurality v of card-suit denominators, a plurality of bid-,

denominators of progressively increasing value, and a plurality of spaces each identified with one of said suit-denominators and one of said bid-denominators, and player-identifying markers selectively cooperating with said spaces to register bid declarations; said denominators and spaces being progressively arranged circumferentially of the board in consonance With the ranking order of card-suit values and bid values.

14. A bridge-bidding device for recording successive declarations, including: a board having declaration-recording spaces arranged circum-r ferentially thereof in circumferentially adjacent groups, indicating means associating each space of each group with a given card-suit, indicating means associating each group with a given bidthe respective increasing suit values, and the respective groups being progressively'arranged circumferentially of the board in consonance with the increasing value of the respective biddenominators.

15. A board for recording successive bridge bid declarations, said board having a plurality of card-suit denominators, a plurality of biddenominators of progressively increasing value, a pass-recording space for each of four players, and a plurality of bid-recording spaces each identified with one of said suit-denominators and one of said bid-denominators; and playeridentifying markers selectively cooperating with said spaces to register bid declarations; said pass-recording spaces being arrangedabout the board one in each of the respective player-positions, and said denominators and bid-recording spaces being progressively arranged circumferentially of the boardin consonance with the ranking order of card-suit values and bid Values.

F. B. WATKINS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,004,513. June 11, 1935.

FREDERICK B. WATKINS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, second column, line 49, claim 7, for "blade" read plate; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

